Façade Ideas #3 | Glass Under Fire
Can a different type of glass improve fire safety?
Fire-resistant glazing plays an essential role in contemporary façades.
But could another type of glass perform even better?
This question motivated the research presented at OpenFace Day 2026 by Katie Sawey, Stijn Blom, Sarah Wagner and Brayden Tang, Building Technology students at TU Delft.
Looking beyond conventional glazing
The team investigated the behaviour of borosilicate glass, a material commonly used in laboratory equipment because of its exceptional resistance to thermal shock.
Through comparative fire testing, the project explored whether borosilicate glass could offer advantages over conventional soda-lime glass in façade applications.
The research focused on:
- thermal shock resistance;
- cracking behaviour;
- failure mechanisms;
- opportunities for future fire-resistant glazing systems.
One of the most striking observations was that the borosilicate specimen remained intact under conditions that caused significant deterioration in conventional glass.
This project demonstrates how experimental testing can open new possibilities for safer façade systems while encouraging the reuse of well-established materials in new applications.
About the team
The project was developed by Katie Sawey, Stijn Blom, Sarah Wagner and Brayden Tang as part of the MSc Building Technology programme at TU Delft.
Special thanks to Efectis for supporting the experimental fire testing.